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Friday, October 06, 2006

Nostalgia and fond memories have much to do with our food choices. As I kid, I refused to eat birthday cake. My mother, after tearing her hair out, came up with the substitute of Lemon Meringue pie. Now I can't resist anything lemony and it was a natural that my first favorite Paris dessert should be a tarte au citron.

Be sure and ask for une tartelette au citron if you want to avoid the "tsk tsks" in the patisserie and more embarrassment than the average daily romp around Paris will provide you.

Here's another sacrilege to the tarte citron at arnaud Del Mon Tel in the 9th. As far as I'm concerned it's incorrect to bow the surface of the tart or put stuff on it or in any way mar it's glassy smoothness. Do we really need to see a bit of lemon zest to identify these beauties?

Le Pain Quotidiencan get away with it in this case. Just a slight hint of excessiveness here...

Now here is perfection in Gérard Mulot's example. A nice smooth, flat, lake of a tart and so delicious I forgot to paint it. I dived straight in - there may well be a whole jar of lemon curd in this baby... I had to throw in this picture. Because only in Paris would you see a citron-colored patisserie.

Fridays are turning into Paris patisserie day here at PB.. In slightly over 2 weeks I'll take off in that direction and I'm getting myself ready for the glories that await me...

30 comments:

The raseberry on top of the citron tartlette, and your "excessive," note made me laugh!You make reading blogs a feast for the eyes, I dare say it is like walking in Paris, licking the windows...(as they say here in France about "window shopping!")The painting on top is perfection, did you whip that up this morning???

Hey Gillot, the watercolor at the top of todays post is great. I think is your best one so far. The composition is dynamic, and the application of the paint is loose. There's a lot of movement in this one,and the colors are great. You should focus on doing more still lifes that have this kind of complex composition. You can do it!!!

I propose a snob sentance "la géométrie pâtissière de P.Hermé..." thank you for your tarte au citron, très réaliste ! the shop Marquise de Sévigné is 2 minutes to my dentist, I have resisted, because I am waiting the week you will be in Paris...M.

What a beautiful WC. The only problem is I'm sick in bed at the moment and want one of these Tartlets so bad:) Thats what always happens when I come hear. I must gain weight also. Lol.Have a good day,Linda

Your criticism of the domed lemon tart is right on: truly wonderful lemon curd is so silky it can NOT maintain a domed shape! That domed shape is an indication of something used to over-thicken the curd. What is the world coming to when you can't trust a French bakery to avoid stiffeners?I can't help but feel you may have been missing out on the birthday cakes.....

Paris Mail

♥carol gillott♥

l'Ile Saint Louis, Paris, Ile de France, France

Hi I'm Carol Gillott,
My Mom taught me watercolors at 5. I'm still at it, now tripping over cobblestones, living in a 6th-floor garret on l'Ile Saint-Louis, Paris. Read Parisbreakfast with a hot chocolate and croissant.
I paint Paris breakfasts.